Holly's Summer Manifesto

Photo by Paige Evans

Don't worry, friends—my kids are sick. Again. This time, it's Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease; it's a highly contagious illness that looks like chicken pox, but only around your limbs and your lips. See you in 10 days when the disease isn't communicable anymore.

The words that have been echoing after my sick-kid complaints have been, "Sometimes, kids just get sick. There's not much you can do."

But there IS something I can do!

I am dreaming of the best summer ever, and I'm making plans to put it in motion. Sick kids or not, I am going to make these things happen:

• Write a special summer 'zine made by moi
• Fall in love with Mexican food again
• Rummage through my parents' house and kidnap some treasures to bring back home
• Drink more sparkling pink lemonade
• Make a summer playlist on GrooveShark
• Be rid of full trash bags laying around
• Scrape my knees doing something crazy
• Finally do batting cages for the first time in my life
• Put ice in my water every day
• Create the best Chatfield Sisters movie yet

No matter how many germs get between me and my perfect life, I'm going to be checking these off my summer list one by one. Germs don't know that they shouldn't come between me and my goals. Or maybe I'm too thick to realize that I can't just enable the powers of mind over matter.

To misquote Coldplay: Germs and I never change, do we? Germs and I never learn, do we?

What's your summer manifesto?

 

Summer manifesto idea from Kimberly Adami-Hasegawa

30 Days of Lists, March 2012 Edition: The First Third

I am usually pretty good at math, guys.

But what I am currently bad at is adding. On March 11, I took pictures of all of my 30 Days of Lists thus far and I came out with an even 10 lists. 10 does not equal 11, for those who share my mathematical struggles. I missed a list along the way (turns out, it was the "Happy Places" list).

This is not my first list rodeo. I'm not sure how I forgot to do one of the prompts provided, but I have remedied it. I swear.

Here are my first 10 lists for the world to see—the day's prompt is underlined at the top, and my responses are below. And as always, the blurriness of the photos is because I love the filters on Instagram too much.

Materials used: Notebook from Datamark (Caleb's work), Notepaper from K & Company (Smash Book Blank Pad), Tape from K & Company (Black Dot Smash Tape), Pen from the Pizza Man Who Gave It To Me When I Complimented It

Pop Culture Loves: Mid-Season TV

When Jack runs into some trouble, he says, "Uh-oh, I have a plob-lem."

After surveying the upcoming new shows that start next month, I realized that I may have an addiction to NBC programming. Two of the four shows I am excited about are on the National Broadcasting Company channel. And with all of my pop culture sights set on television shows lately, my brain feels full of NBC synergy and corporate mind-washing. If that channel ever goes under, I will have a plob-lem.

Here's a peek into the shows I am dying to watch come January.

Smash, NBC

In the vein of current hit Glee, Smash appears to be a TV musical extravaganza. The show is based around a musical about Marilyn Monroe and those putting it on; Katherine McPhee of American Idol fame has been featured in all of the commercials, though I imagine that the other renowned members of the cast have more than a little screen time themselves.

Project Runway All-Stars, Lifetime

My perennial favorite show Project Runway is running its second iteration of an all-star season. The first has a few of my favorite former contestants, such as Santino Rice and Danial Vosovic, but this season offers a bucketload of people I loved the first time around. Austin Scarlett (of Season One's corn husk dress fame), Kara Janx, Anthony Williams, and shoulda-been winner Mondo Guerra round out the cast that I am just dying to see.

Fashion Star, NBC

And for something completely different, a supermodel will host a garment-making contest that is judged by trusted names in the fashion industry. Wait...that sounds familiar. Who am I kidding?

I am for sure going to watch Elle McPherson work it out, as well as root on one of my favorite celebrity mamas, Nicole Richie. And did you know that Caleb once had a signed picture of Jessica Simpson in her Daisy Dukes? Not no more, he don't!

Don't Trust the B*tch in Apartment 23, ABC

Any show that features James Van der Beek as himself is worth giving a shot. End of story.


Add these shows to the already-full list of returning programming I watch on the regular:

• New Girl, Fox
• Up All Night, NBC
• The Biggest Loser, NBC
• The Voice, NBC

And don't forget all of the TV shows I am trying to catch up on through Netflix. To the pop culture rookie, this may seem like a lot. But, a seasoned professional like me can handle it. I am one happy, television-watching dame.

What shows are you looking forward to in 2012?

Twitter? I Hardly Knew Her!

I'm a twitter nerd, and I follow some people that I really admire. If you have twitter and aren't following me yet, come play with me at @flolly. I look to twitter for entertainment, inspiration, and news. Check out my favorite people:

Ali Vincent—fitness and inspiration (@alivincent)
Tara Costa—inspiration, fitness, and fantasticness (@tara_costa)
Pamela Ribon—writer, funny lady, and all-time best (@pamelaribon)
Rachel Denbow—vintage-lovin', creative mama (@racheldenbow)
Jillian Michaels—trainer extraordinaire (@JillianMichaels)
Joe Reid—pop culture dreamboat (@joereid)
Dolvett Quince (@dolvett)

Dolvett is a trainer on The Biggest Loser, which is a show I'm totally in the bag for. As you can see, more than a few people on my list have been a part of that movement. Recently, he tweeted, "When was the last time you did something for the first time?"

I know his sentiment was supposed to be motivating and inspirational, but I think I took it a little too literally. I have been scouring my iPhoto to see if I have photographic evidence of the last time I did something for the first time. Here are some of my ideas.

Loved the way these pink sweats look on me.

We had Thanksgiving by ourselves, and we had Spiderman there!

Bought a whole pineapple, as well as having a son with bangs.

Posted my first instagram photo, featuring a cold Lucy.

What about you guys?

Want to share any "first time adventure" stories?

Cleaning Up in the Game of Life

Remember my whining about not being in California anymore?

Thanks to my stay-at-home lifestyle and my cousin Cari's sudden unemployment, that whining will abate for about a week. We decided over dinner a couple of nights ago to head to Disneyland, after griping that my sister, my nephew, and my mom have been three times in the last three weeks. I am so thrilled because:

• I love unexpected trips--spontaneity rocks!
• Disneyland with an almost-three-year-old is going to be so awesome.
• Cari is one of my favorite people ever, so spending so much time with her is going to rule.
• Not living right next to my sister Shelley has left a gaping hole in my heart, so I need some visits to spackle it temporarily when she moves to South America.
• We don't have to worry about driving through snow AT ALL.

My goals are to keep blogging while I'm in Redlands and to take a ton of photos to remember all of the fun we have.

Do you take spontaneous trips?

When was the last time you went to Disneyland?

Want to have lunch with me while we're down there?

The Happiness Project & Me

On a girls' night out with my friend Emily, I came across a book by Gretchen Rubin called The Happiness Project. The cover is beautiful to me, and the message seemed to be calling out to me--

Adding happiness to an already-happy life is possible. Being happier is within reach.

The whole book is incredible and accessible; Gretchen is a parent, a writer, a wife, and a friend. Her life is similar to mine, so I knew that if I tried to follow her lead, I could be successful. For a year, she utilized such devices as singing, decluttering, and socializing to make her life and the lives of those around her more positive. As someone who is constantly striving to purge herself of her nastiness (inside and out!), I swallowed this book in whole chunks--I should go back and reread it!

I know I am late to the party, since this book was on the New York Times bestseller list, but maybe you are, too. Maybe you could benefit from looking at life realistically and asking yourself how you can be happier. And maybe you would enjoy just reading a great book with an interesting heroine. I read my book on my Kindle for iPhone app, but it's also available on amazon.com.

Gretchen has many "commandments" and "truths" that guided her project, and the first is:

To be happier, you have to think about feeling good, feeling bad, and feeling right, in an atmosphere of growth. 

In the back of her book, she suggests some thought points to get you started on your own happiness project. Here they are below; I have been pondering them for a few days and I think I am getting brave enough to give myself some answers.

1. What makes you feel good? What activities do you find fun, energizing, and satisfying?
2. What makes you feel bad? What are sources of anger, irritation, boredom, frustration, or anxiety in your life?
3. Is there any way in which you don't feel right about your life? Do you wish you could change your job, city, family situation, or other circumstances? Are you living up to your expectations for yourself? Does your life reflect your values?
4. Do you have sources of an atmosphere of growth? In what elements of your life do you find progress, learning, challenge, improvement, and increased mastery?

Does this speak to you?

Update on my "26 Before 27" List

In preparation for 30 Days of Lists, I thought that I might go over my "26 Things to Do Before Turning 27" list. My half-birthday is at the end of September; I am hoping that I'm halfway done with the list, but I know me--I am a great starter, but a terrible finisher!

From this week's Postsecret collection.

26 Things Before 27
*Dye at least some of my hair a neon color
*See a therapist
*Eat at my favorite childhood restaurant, El Burrito -- I threw Weight Watchers to the curb and scarfed some chicken tacos and a bean & cheese burrito, and it was totally worth it.
*Run a 5k for real
*Go rock climbing
*Sponsor a blog to promote my own -- 30 Days of Lists: September, here I come! It is so fun to sponsor a project that I feel so passionately about.
*See five friends from high school and tell them how much they mean to me
*Throw a themed costume party
*Attend a function where I know absolutely no one and make a good friend -- I met a really adorable friend at the audition, and she turned out to live in my same apartment complex! We are having fun getting to know each other.
*Make another movie with my sisters
*Find an album to make visceral memories to (like the ones to "Late Registration")
*Sleep through the night -- for once! -- Sleep was achieved on our 5th anniversary celebration at Disneyland. I had forgotten what pure bliss it was.
*Submit a piece of pop culture writing for online publication
*Buy a ridiculously-priced wardrobe item for myself
*Ride a twisty roller coaster -- I rode several fast, twisty, tall roller coasters on Caleb's birthday. I won't say I loved it, but at least I conquered my fears.
*Create a regularly-scheduled blog challenge -- Though I know Love Me Tender Mondays aren't my most popular posts, I am loving documenting my collection. Booyah!
*Learn to French braid
*Take a class, any class -- I took an e-course about interior decorating from Rachel Denbow called Style Your Space and I learned so much about doing what I want on a budget.
*Speak French for a whole day
*Get acrylic nails and give Caleb a back scratch
*Do the batting cages
*Decorate one room in the house exactly how I want it, no matter the cost -- Doing the kids' room wasn't as costly as I thought, but I felt proud with how it turned out.
*Buy Adobe Photoshop Elements
*Go to the dentist, finally! -- Only three cavities after a 5-year dentist absence? I'll take it!
*Send five heartfelt letters to role models in my life
*Write some fan mail to actors/bloggers/entertainers I appreciate -- I have written to children's book authors, lifestyle bloggers, and people that I just out and out like. Being more appreciative has been incredibly rewarding in terms of karma.


Well, 10 out of 26 isn't quite halfway, but it is better than nothing. Setting goals has always been a huge motivator for me to continue bettering myself and my environment. And looking at the part of the list I haven't done, I think I might tackle some of the scarier or more difficult things coming up--sending sincere letters, seeking out old friends, and getting myself ready to run a 5k come to mind!

Do you have a list like mine? What have you done on it so far?

What do you wish you hadn't put on there in the first place? (Mine is Photoshop Elements--what was I thinking?)

Ikea Lusts

I have committed the cardinal sin: I moved right next door to an Ikea. An addendum to that is that I also do not have all of the money in the world to spend at Ikea. This additional fact makes it quite hard when we visit this Swedish wonderland and there are signs everywhere that say "Last Chance Item!" Like, this Sjovik buffet that is in every room set-up right now. There were yellow signs everywhere reminding me that even though the price was slashed, I couldn't afford it. I could, however, fit into it because it's huge and wonderful. I would link to it on the Ikea website, but this buffet is not on it anymore. Sigh.


   
But then I look at things I can afford, and I feel a lot better. I adore this circus tent. We have a children's tent for each child's bedroom, though. So even though we could afford it, the Flanagan family is not in the market for tents. Flergh.

We are in the market for disaster preparedness, though. Our church has instructed that we have a supply of food and other items available in case of emergency. And even though I always think about it, we haven't really gotten things together yet. This Ikea flashlight is in our price range, would be valuable in an emergency, and it's red! You guys, RED!

I'm not too into tchotchkes or doodads around the house, but look at this sand. Look at these rocks! Look at my gaping mouth and wide eyes, in love with them and wanting to fork over all of my belongings to get huge amounts of them to put in my apartment. Which would be empty. Except for the sand and rocks. Not my smartest imaginary move.

And I know it's overdone. I know Baroque frames would look silly amongst all of our modern, sleek-lined decor. I also know that I wantWANTwant this mirror.

Are you an Ikea fan or do you live close to your favorite store?

How to Host a "What Would You Do For a Klondike Bar" Party

My friend Maryam asked me to guest post at her blog while she was on maternity leave. This is the result. Happy 4th of July, all!

Hey Pamplemousse1983 readers, this is Holly from So Dang Brilliant, a blog that documents my studies of quantum mechanics and Latin-based mysteries (or just the life and times of a crafty and pop culture-loving mama). I am thrilled that Maryam asked me to contribute to her blog while she spends time snuggling with Margaux; her blog has been my new obsession recently! The Teeny Tutorials she posts have inspired me to make a zombie lima bean and a Jay Leno version of my son. I think I'll leave the artsy DIYs to Maryam, though!

My favorite pastime (and something I am actually good at!) is putting together quirky parties for my family and friends to attend. Sometimes the theme is loose, like "Potluck Dessert Dinner," or the theme is extremely specific, like my annual award show parties. My only goals for any party I throw are that it is low stress for me and high fun for everyone.

I am going to share with you a recent party I threw that was inspired by that delicious ice cream bar, Klondike. The classic Klondike bar commercial asks, "What Would You Do for a Klondike Bar?" I bet everyone reading this could even sing the jingle -- it's catchy! So, what better way to get your friends to do silly things in public than to offer them the same challenge? Here are some steps for a low-key and hilarious party.

How to Host a "What Would You Do for a Klondike Bar" Party

1. Invite all of your favorite friends over to your place. When they arrive, have them write their names on small pieces of paper and put them in a bowl. Here, my cousin Ben and my sister Julie are using High School Musical 3 pens to write their names -- classy!



2. When everyone has arrived, have each guest pull a name from the bowl. Allow five minutes for each guest to contemplate a personalized dare for their victim; this is the perfect time to get your friend to do your favorite impersonation, crazy dance move, or Shakespearean monologue. My cousin Cari drew my name, which she apparently thought was a bad choice.


3. One by one, each person tells their victim which dare they would like them to perform. Julie had to draw a portrait of her husband with her mouth, Cari had to balance three toys on her head for thirty seconds, and my friend Kileen had to do somersaults across the living room. And those were the tame ones! To see what Cari dared me to do, head over to my blog and enjoy the humiliation.

4. When each victim performs their task, they receive their Klondike bar. As they say, to the victor goes the spoils. If there are kids in attendance, you can let them have a Klondike just because they're cute. Kileen's daughter Aurora is basking in the glow of delicious vanilla ice cream covered in chocolate!

My two party goals were met. All I had to do to get ready for the party was buy Klondike bars and cut up paper for drawing names. And everyone had an intensely good time; we are all still talking about the ridiculous things we did for that delicious treat!

Do you like throwing parties, too? Are you into more formal affairs -- black tie and pinkies in the air? Or would you do absolutely nothing for a Klondike bar? Let me know in the comments!

And congratulations to my friend Maryam!

Sometimes I Feel Like a Monster: Five Ways to Be(come) a Nice Person

Last weekend, I waved at someone I thought I knew in the car next to me. Continuing my love of a good stranger interaction, I do not regret waving, even though it wasn't the person I thought it was. What I do regret is the extreme anger I felt afterward when my supposed friend did not wave back. I haven't seen this childhood friend in a few years; I dyed my hair, had another kid, and moved around a little since our last meeting. I can see how he wouldn't recognize me. But, dude! And like I said, I came to find out later that it wasn't my friend. Wasted energy and all that.

After that total diss (which turned out to not be a diss), I could not stop thinking evil thoughts. I was so angry! I came up with grand plans akin to Yzma's in The Emporer's New Groove and wanted to dress in all black to sneak around in the shadows with my dastardly ideas. My mind was hellbent on revenge. And that's when I realized: I'd become a monster.

I hope I am not the only one who gets like this sometimes. I'm sure that I do it more than most others, but these are the exercises I put myself through to realize those negative vibes and get back to some semblance of nicety. I believe that even the most evil of all people would benefit from using these methods--even my long-lost friend who is TOTALLY IGNORING ME AND WHY DIDN'T HE WAVE AT ME THAT'S RIGHT IT WASN'T EVEN HIM OH GOSSSSSSH.

1. Think of the worst thing someone could say back to you in an argument, then let the mean words go: I am the queen of the below-the-belt verbal jab. I have made several enemies over the years because I knew exactly what to say to make them cringe and run away. To keep myself from saying something I'll regret later, I often let the conversation play out in my head; I make the other person say the things that would hurt my feelings the most. For example, if I'm mad at my husband, I will silently think:

Holly: You are such a jerk. If you don't take the trash out one more time, I will start nagging you until your head explodes, which you'll deserve because you didn't do what I asked.

Caleb: Are you kidding? I know that you left that clean laundry unfolded for a WEEK. And you're not doing very well on your diet. Plus, you aren't teaching our children Latin or linear algebra or foreign diplomacy because you don't have a college degree!

I am very fragile when it comes to my housekeeping, my body image, and my lack of education. If someone said that to me in real life, I would bawl like a baby. Imagining someone saying these things keeps me from pointing out the flaws of others; I'm sure most people know where their weaknesses are, so why should I remind them? Golden rule, baby.

2. Apologize for something you've done and see if you feel closer to that person: Bad feelings usually don't crop up because of a singular situation. If you are mad about something that someone did, maybe that person is upset because of something you did. I find that when I am ticked off with someone I am really close to, it helps to review our relationship and choose an incident that was totally my fault and apologize for it. I know I mess up a lot. If my younger sister does something uncouth that bugs me, I will try to wipe away my negative feelings by apologizing for running out into the field during first grade recess and yelling out the name of the boy she liked. Sincerity is key here. I am truly sorry that I embarrassed her way back then. Maybe someday she will return the favor and apologize for her current behavior. Until then, at least I know that I am trying to be a better person.

3. Get some perspective: Easily irritated with your first-world problems? Today, I am mad that the shake I ordered wasn't a sip-through-a-straw shake. I almost used Twitter to bash that restaurant by name, I was that upset! But guys, here is a list of media that keep me grounded and help me realize that I will be fine in thirty seconds.

• The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia -- a documentary about backwoods criminals that broke my heart most of all because it features kids doing drugs. SOB!
• Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble, and Coming of Age in the Bronx -- a book that chronicles the lives of two inner-city girls who deal with a lot of crap. And it's all true! DOUBLE SOB!
• Every Mother Counts -- an advocacy group that helps third-world maternal and child health. I thought about those women every day I was pregnant with Lucy.

4. Send a PostSecret: I have saved myself a lot of grief by expressing my feelings through art and words. Secret blogs, written journals, and angst-ridden songs have backfired on me, so I now use PostSecret to make something beautiful and then send it away into the world. I feel like I told someone, but it didn't have to be the someone at whom I was mad. And the thrill of seeing one of your postcards on the site is unmatched! (Side note: I just sent in two postcards yesterday!)

5. Take care of yourself: Only you know what that means for you. So, do it.

To-Do To-day

In no particular order, here is my list of things I MUST DO today before I go to sleep at 9:00 pm (which will be happening because I am tired of staying up too late!):

• Dye my hair so that my huge blonde spot blends in again. [Done!]
• Fold the rest of the dang laundry. 
• Stop calling it "dang" laundry -- it's never done anything to me except be clean.
• Order Jack's Lightning McQueen cake for Saturday's half-birthday party. [Done and done!]
• Take Jack and Lucy on an adventure before it gets too hot outside.  [Done--took them to the Provo LDS Temple because Jack always asks to "touch the temple" when we drive past.]
•  Stop being lame and keep my promise to my friend--read her manuscript before it turns into dust on my hard drive!
• Dominate in Words with Friends (HelloooHolly if anyone's interested!).

 I just looooove lists. Do you?

My Top Five, Female Edition

Piggybacking onto this post about my top five celebrity crushes, I have decided to unveil my girl-crushes to the world. While I think these women are all beautiful, I also think they are all girls I'd like to be friends with. Who wouldn't want a spunky, witty, hilarious friend to go hang out with on a Saturday night?

1. Mila Kunis is a goddess. Period.

Source: peoplestylewatch.com via Holly on Pinterest

2. Kat Dennings is an actress I would follow to any movie or tv show (hello, 2 Broke Girls!).

Source: howmuchdotheyweigh.com via Holly on Pinterest

3. I have hidden Kim Kardashian in the middle of my list, as to not call attention to the fact that she's my guilty pleasure crush. I don't care how plastic or fake she is -- I love her!

Source: musicrooms.net via Holly on Pinterest

4. Can I get an amen for Emma Stone? Girl's got "it."

Source: myhollywoodsource.com via Holly on Pinterest

5. And old-school Lindsay Lohan. Emphasis on "old-school."

Source: hotslive.com via Holly on Pinterest

My Top Five, Male Edition

Source

My husband Caleb and my BFF Kelsae have egged each other on to create their "Top Five" celebrity crushes and make it into a blog series. This came about because any time Caleb sees a female celebrity that he thinks is attractive, he says, "She could be in my top five." There was never an actual list, but he decided to create one when he began his new blog venture. He was unfolding his grand plan at a party, and Kelsae pushed him to make a male version of the "Top Five" idea. Caleb responded to this suggestion by challenging Kelsae to do the same. What he did not do was challenge me to do it, but here I am!

Caleb spread out his female entries, starting with his number five choice and leading up to the number one hottie Megan Fox. He carefully crafted his list and had an intense session of finding tasteful pictures to post. There were many late-night discussions about who was hotter than whom. All in all, I feel that he did a great job. He is currently working on his boy crushes list.

Kelsae, on the other hand, is being called out right now for slackitude! Or maybe she is just too busy being a grad student doing an internship where they use panic buttons when (alleged) felons get their crazy on. Whatever.

Here is my "Top Five," but I will say that I could not arrange them in any appropriate order. I couldn't separate the pure visual hotness from the charming demeanor of all of the celebrities. I submit these five gentlemen for admiration and/or drooling.

Source

Ryan Reynolds first came onto my radar when he was on "Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place" on ABC's T.G.I.F. line-up. He was so dreamy! But then he just kept pushing the envelope and turned out some fantastic comedy movie roles, like "Just Friends" and his tiny role in "X-Men: Wolverine." He's got the ruggedness and the style and the tallness. And ultimately, he's got the abs.

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Part of the reason I have seen "The Social Network" (more than) a few times is because I find Andrew Garfield strangely hypnotic. He is extremely waif-y, which is not my usual type, but he gives good face. And that hair! That's finger-runnable hair. Andrew Garfield's involvement in the new Spiderman movie has rekindled my interest in that series, because I have GOT to see him in that suit.

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John C. McGinley played Dr. Cox on "Scrubs" and I can't separate him from his character. I adore his curly hair, but the biggest draw is his humorously abrasive demeanor that covers a heart of gold. Quotes from his character float around in my head all the time, especially when I take medicine: "It’s regular-strength Tylenol! Here’s what’cha do: Get her to open her mouth, take a handful, and throw it at her. Whatever sticks, that’s the correct dosage."

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"No, I don't think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly. That's what's wrong with you. You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how"

"There's one thing I do know... and that is that I love you, Scarlett. In spite of you and me and the whole silly world going to pieces around us, I love you. Because we're alike. Bad lots, both of us. Selfish and shrewd. But able to look things in the eyes as we call them by their right names."

"Rhett... if you go, where shall I go, what shall I do?"
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

(I know he's not real, but that is definitely the real world's loss.)

Source

America's male sweetheart is my dream man -- smart, brunette, funny, witty, and he looks like my daddy! Isn't that what every girl wants?

30 Days of Lists: Lists Twenty-One Through Twenty-Five

I know I already posted the last set of 30 Days of Lists, which was due to an itchy publishing finger, so here is the second-to-last set to round things out.

List Twenty-One: Things to Do This Spring

• Finally make it to the top of the Y
• Do all 30 days of the 30 Day Shred
• Find Jack some new swim trunks
• Have a girls' night party and play "Pick a Page" with our journals
• Wear moccasins
• Create a blog challenge of my own!

List Twenty-Two: Today I Saw...

• A cute Lucy in a shamrock dress
• Absolutely no dirty laundry
• All clouds, no sun
• Blurry things, thanks to no glasses
• Not near enough of Caleb

List Twenty-Three: Guilty Pleasures

• Marshmallow peeps
• Comfy sweats
• Being falsely modest & self-deprecating
• Pulling faces in photos
• Watching "Phineas & Ferb"

List Twenty-Four: I Make Lists For...

• Household chores
• Things I want to buy
• Dinner plans for the week
• Christmas gifts
• Grocery shopping
• Personal goals

List Twenty-Five: Things I'd Rather Be Doing Now

• Taking a crafting e-course of ANY kind
• Planning a fantastic party
• Relaxing @ a spa with a massage and Caleb
• Working on my fitness
• Watching "The West Wing"
• Painting my nails again for Moorea Seal's "Paint Your Love" challenge

30 Days of Lists: Lists Twenty-Six Through Thirty

The last post about the most fun project I'm working on, thanks to the girls at 30 Days of Lists. For each day, there is a prompt for a list about my life. Or your life. Just do iiiiit.

List Twenty-Six: Books I'd Like to Read This Year

• Random Family -- Adrian LeBlanc
• The Autobiography of Mark Twain
• Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century
• Re-read all of Pamela Ribon's books: Why Girls are Weird, Why Moms are Weird, Going in Circles

List Twenty-Seven: Lessons Learned

• Choose your battles
• It's necessary to take care of yourself, mentally & physically
• The only way to get rid of a chill is taking a nap
• Don't drink orange juice after brushing your teeth
• Be humble, be grateful, be prayerful, be smart, be clean, be true
• Don't write bitterly on the internet
• Be in more pictures
• Spend money wisely
• You always hurt the ones you love -- but try not to
• Set personal goals all the time to constantly have something to strive for
• Slow down to the speed limit on the I-15 speed traps
• Be true to yourself
• Stick to your guns
• Always write people's first & last names in your journals and yearbooks
• Take extreme caution while in the kitchen -- things are hot!
• Think before you speak
• Positive thoughts lead to positive actions
• Don't drop the soap
• They say the best things in life are free

List Twenty-Eight: Vacations to Take

• SoCal-- always SoCal!
• Houston, TX
• Disney World
• Tour of the British Isles
• Paris, France
• Bartlesville, OK
• Washington, DC
• NYC
• Chicago

List Twenty-Nine: Favorite Foods

• Lasagna
• Ghosts in the Graveyard
• Pineapple pizza
• Sweet potatoes
• Meatball subs
• Sugar snap peas
• Hashbrowns
• Black beans
• McRib
• Spaghetti Carbonara
• Avocado Club egg rolls

List Thirty: Things to Do Today

• Go to Target for groceries
• Listen to my new Adele and Beach Boys music
• Clean the house: Dishes, Load of Laundry, Finish Organizing Toys
• Make plans for the weekend
• Return emails and Facebook messages
• Put away clean laundry
• Find new sandals to buy

I have found participating in this challenge so fulfilling, so inspiring, and so stinking fun. Check out the 30 Days of Lists blog and sign up for their newsletter -- they're doing another thirty days soon!